Elizabeth Manning's bloghttp://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/blog/2121
enDisability funding is no charity - it's an investmenthttp://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/node/581
<p>Treasurer Joe Hockey warned on Tuesday of a &quot;massive blowout&quot; in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) if the system wasn't made more efficient. This follows subtle re-positioning of the government's stance on the NDIS since the election.</p>
<p>Tony Abbott referred to the scheme as a &ldquo;trial&rdquo; rather than a &ldquo;launch&rdquo; after the recent COAG meetings. And back in November a key adviser to the government, the head of the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Business Advisory Council Mr Maurice Newman, identified the NDIS as a &ldquo;worthy cause&rdquo;, but one which it was &ldquo;reckless&rdquo; to support in times of economic difficulty.</p>
<p>The &ldquo;worthy cause&rdquo; part of his speech is patronising, offensive and anachronistic; the &ldquo;reckless&rdquo; part is ill-informed and patently incorrect.</p>
<p><a href="http://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/node/581" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/node/581#commentsBusiness and LawdisabilityNDISThu, 19 Dec 2013 04:03:52 +0000Elizabeth Manning581 at http://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speakingIncreasing income tax the right choice for a sustainable NDIShttp://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/node/481
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</xml><![endif]--><p class="MsoNormal">While an income tax increase may be hard to sell to some people in the community in the lead-up to a federal election, it&rsquo;s the right choice for a sustainable National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From July 1 next year, the Medicare levy will increase by 0.5% to partly fund the NDIS, taking the Medicare levy to 2% and adding an extra $1 per day to the Medicare levy of an average worker on A$70,000.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the move is a risk for the Gillard government because it gives the Coalition, if elected in September, the power to delay or veto the scheme.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Increasing income tax the right choice for a sustainable NDIS</p>
<p><a href="http://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/node/481" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/node/481#commentsEconomics and Public PolicyNDISThu, 02 May 2013 02:31:43 +0000Elizabeth Manning481 at http://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speakingNDIS funding a start but limited trial means a long wait for mosthttp://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/node/300
<p>Last night&rsquo;s budget contained an important step towards realising a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), with $1bn allocated over the next four years. Of these funds, $342.5 million will pay for individualised care and support for 10,000 people in four yet-to-be-announced &ldquo;launch sites&rdquo; in 2013-14. The trial will grow to include 20,000 people by 2014-15.<br />
The remainder of the funding will go towards the set-up costs of the NDIS over four years, including systems for data collection and analysis, local area coordinators, a new agency to oversee implementation and manage delivery, assessment of need and monitoring of outcomes and the effectiveness of the scheme.<br />
The government&rsquo;s announcement will see people assisted by the scheme a year earlier than the timeline the Productivity Commission suggested in its 2011 report into disability care and support. <br />
But there are some major shortfalls in last night&rsquo;s announcement.</p>
<p><a href="http://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/node/300" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/node/300#commentsEconomics and Public PolicydisabilityEconomicsgovernment policyNDISThu, 10 May 2012 05:17:59 +0000Elizabeth Manning300 at http://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speakingIf you think the disability insurance scheme is not your problem, think againhttp://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/node/293
<p> AT THE moment there is no automatic right of access to disability support across the board in this country. If your child fell out of a tree tomorrow and sustained serious brain damage, what sort of help would you expect and hope for?</p>
<p>He or she would be entitled to care in a public hospital, but once discharged, you'd be largely on your own.</p>
<p>This article first appeared in The Age 26 April 2012. </p>
<p><a href="http://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/node/293" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking/node/293#commentsEconomics and Public PolicydisabilityinsuranceThu, 26 Apr 2012 06:55:38 +0000Elizabeth Manning293 at http://communities.deakin.edu.au/deakin-speaking